The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-12-15
That "Addre IS. "

,ntains an address" to Hon. b. +. {
ones, Chairman of the National Repno- C
can Committee, signed by several Repuo +
can members of Congress and several I
members Of the Virginia Leg +,
stature. 1t is said. in one report, that ,
was read bv Col. w. c. Elan before the ,
Committee, and in another report that {
,ol Flam addressed the committee. Civ
ng reasons why Virginia could be carried
Tor the Republican Presidential nominees
if mora, and material recognition we're
given by the Committee. 1t was some
thing ont of the order of things for del
egatiop. without official status, to pc al
lowed to introduce matters of this KIND Ie-
lating to State conditions exclusively as
it is presumed that the member OF that
committee from the State would at all
times be prepared and qualified to give all
needed information. The Ostenslble OBJ
iect of the delegation in making its APP |
pearance was to urge Richmond as the |
place for holding the National Convention.
Being allowed that privilege. it was |
ayailed of to either Tread the paper re-
ferred to or state its substance orally
having nothing in it german to the an
nounced object.
1t is not cur purpose to discuss, at this
time, either the spirit. statements OF con-
illusions of the address" We are sure
some of the gentlemen whose names are
signed to it, could not have read 1t
carefully, if at all. and did not comprehend
its meaning. Its insinuated assaults upon
Virginia Republicans. the discourteous and
unseemIy epithets employed; the angry
temper manifested in the terms used; the
contentious and beligerent animus, we are
confident are not endorsed hy some OF tie
signers and must necessarily have inspired
sentiment of disgust on the part OF the
members of deliberatiye body called to
consider specified interests looking TO Re
publican harmony and Republican success.
We do not regret, however, that the pa
per was read before the Committee, if chat
was really the case. and Published in the
Republican. for it clearly and distinctly
exhibits the spirit which has controlled
She present management of the Republican
party Of Virginia, and exposes the reasons
aily the Republicans are not to day in con-
troll of the Legislature of the State. 1t
makes plain why SO many influential men
in Virginia, who sympathiZe with the
principles of the Republican party. are not
only not now working in accord with the
organization. but some of them supporting
the opposite party. The address is
reflection of the spirit and motives which
animate the present chairman of the Re
publican State Committee. 1t is intoler-
ant, malignant, arbitrary, tyrannical, des
potic, incorrect as to its premises and er-
roneous as to its conclusions. 1t is a
tnArGhalling of Gen. Mahones methods
and az exemplification of his policy either
10 rule or rum. We believe the Chairman
of the State Committee is 10. 900 to 2O,0C(
weaker than his party. and we further be-
llieve that every Congressional district il
the State would return Democratic
member as against distinctly announced
Malone candidate in each. While this is
farther that Notwithstanding the opposi
ton within the Republican party to the
chairman, that If the National Convention
should nominate Blaine, or any one equal
sy popular. the electoral vote Of Virginia
might be given to him-not because Of
she State management-hu because of tht
faroad principles and the beneficenE policy
OF the party. as they would be applied *
national interests and to ali the States
With the present organization Their,
would be barely possibility OF carrying
the State. With change, there Is Q Ger
faSafy of it.
The necessity for the appearance of thu
AtdelegatlonN or the presentation of tht
address, - before the National Committe,
is not apparent from the surface facts O
the case. There HAD been no question
xaised as to the regularity of the Statt
organization. That is admitted. Ther'
was no cOntesting State Committee, Of
pretended committee, asking recognition
There was no question raised before thu
National Committee by any one that In
VOlved a contest. There was absolutely n,
excuse or justification for this malignan
Acreed, called an address, q" except TO pal
Slate the failures of the present Chairman
and present him as the Republican party
TO question whose infallibility is to b
denounced as treason, "Bourbonism, $3.50
called Republicans and with like epithets
Further, the term Of the present Nationa
Committee expires with the meeting o
ahe next National Convention, and tn
4aresent Republican management ia Viz
ginia will expire with tine assembling of,.th
next State COnventioD-the campaign vii
not open until new Committees, Nationa
and State. are appointed, and consequent
ay there could be no rational excuse TO
the delegation" in issuing the address.
Weare therefore forced to the conclusion
that the purpose was to bolster up tn
incompatible leader" Malone. and flu,
uish the committee with specimen 0
the ways in which he disciplines hi
forces; 'ernshes OUT offenders against hi
supreme, imperial will, and give them a.
idea. unwittingiy. why Virginia is sti
under Democratic control. when there ar
between $4,000 and 20O0A Republican
majority in the State. The.committee, n
doubt. after reading the address under
stood the situation thoroughly in Virgini
and The conditions and influences to which
it is asked to lend moral and material re
eognitlon.' 1t understands that Gen
Malone has to be accepted as the embodi
aent of the Republican party in Virgini;
that his ambitions are to be regarded al
the object and his ways the standard O
Republican orthodoxy-that he is the Law
and the prophet and that there is none
other. To doubt these assumptions is tt
invoke bull of accommodation and F;
decree of treason from which there can bt
a0 appeal. There are those. however, who
are not so easily disposed of and who consid
er that they have rights in the party as wei
as others, They propose to assert those
rights-to stand to the principles of the
party, and labor for its disenthralment
from such selfish and unwise Influences
They are not willing to have their party